Commission call to dump open skies deals with US

Date: 21/11/02

By Karen Carstens

IN A bid for new powers to broker international aviation deals on behalf of the EU as a whole, the European Commission has demanded that member states revoke bilateral 'open skies' agreements with the United States.

The request, made in a declaration adopted yesterday (20 November), follows a ruling earlier this month by the European Court of Justice that found elements of such bilateral aviation pacts illegal.

The Commission has also called on member states not to make any aviation commitments with other countries until they are clarified under EU law.

'From a legal point of view, the Court's ruling means that member states cannot act independently to conclude bilateral agreements anymore, as many important aspects of air transport are now governed by EU law,' said Loyola de Palacio, the transport and energy commissioner.

'Moreover, this is a win-win situation, since from an economic and political point of view, working together at EU level will also help us to get the best deal for Europe's airlines and consumers.

'We have asked the Council to grant us a negotiating mandate for a common transatlantic aviation area,' she added.

Washington will not take kindly to the Commission's move. Paul Gretch, director of the Office of International

Aviation at the US Department of Transportation, predicted 'an angry reaction' from the administration and Congress.

EU transport ministers meeting in Brussels early next month will discuss the Commission's demands. Several member states insist that the door should be left open for future bilateral negotiations.

In a bid for new powers to broker international aviation deals on behalf of the EU as a whole, the European Commission has demanded that Member States revoke bilateral 'open skies' agreements with the United States.